“Shampoo is better. No, conditioner is better” A really loose translation of the Adam Sandler qoute in Billy Madison. Anyhow, WE LIKE TUMBLR more than wordpress and after hundreds of thousands of hours deliberation, we decided to switch to Tumblr. The switch is not without upsets, but we’re working on getting aquainted with Tumblr and its coolness and hope that you’ll check us out on there as we make the transition. We’re also on Facebook, Twitter and 500 other social media sites. Just kidding, only Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr… fine, and Instagram too. Thanks for stopping in and now please go drink some coffee!

Followers, Family, Friends! Green Street Coffee is moving from this account to its very own, brand new Tumblr home. We’re so glad you’ve followed us so far, kept in touch and been a part of Green Street. As we are currently combining and streamlining our online social presence, we invite you to follow along and continue to contribute, discuss and enjoy!

You’ll still be able to read old articles and entries from both our WordPress and Old Tumblr pages – they’ll be waiting for you at the new page!

When it comes to specialty coffee there can be alot of lingo: microlots, varieties, origins, certifications and the list goes on. I just finished reading Equal Exchanges annual report and looked over their sales of nearly $40M and was really surprised to come to the realization that that’s over 100 times larger than ours will be in 2012. We’re no doubt are finding our niche in the specialty coffee roasting business and looking at companies like Equal Exchange help us consider where we stand in the market, both in sales and in brand. I checked them out because of their brand at first, then came upon their sales numbers and thought, why are EE’s customers so interested in supporting a company who has a reputation for looking out for and being the “little” guy, but doesn’t having sales of $40M make them not so little? It’s amazing to me that Green Street Coffee Roasters annual sales will likely be 100 times smaller than this and believe me this fact is almost sometimes enjoyable; remember “mo’ money equals mo’ problems”? I like being small at this stage and simply trying to do our best to grow the right way. We’re really small. And I think, in a good way. Just looking at the ways to grow our business doesn’t mean we don’t have to. We certainly do. But coming across sales of $40M with years of different strategies in the coffee business made me think to myself “chill out, do it right, and grow slow”. I guess I can add this to our book coffee ramblings. All joking aside, reading about Equal Exchange helped me realize that there continues to be an opportunity for true boot strappin’, start up companies like Green Street Coffee Roasters. So although $40 million sounds down right crazy, here’s to hoping our growth comes as a result of good relationships and great coffee.(CM)

In all honesty and fairness, I set out to write a blog on the history of coffee. A bit ambitious perhaps, but I will decide how to best approach it and look for that soon! I have been reading alot of books on coffee including two rare copies that I have from William Ukers (printed in the 1890’s). The guy was a huge coffee historian and buff.

For now, their is a poem that I came across written in 1587 by Sheik Ansari Djezeri Hanball Abd-al-Kadir. Yes, that is the guys whole name! You really can’t make this stuff up. In any case maybe such long name instilled a way with words upon the young Sheik. Enjoy!

“Oh Coffee, you dispel the worries of the Great, you point the way to those who have wandered from the path of knowledge. Coffee is the drink of the friends of God, and of his servants who seek wisdom.

…No one can understand the truth until he drinks of its frothy goodness. Those who condemn coffee as causing man harm are fools in the eyes of God.

Coffee is the common man’s gold, and like gold it brings to every man the feeling of luxury and nobility….Take time in your preparations of coffee and God will be with you and bless you and your table. Where coffee is served there is grace and splendor and friendship and happiness.

All Cares vanish as the coffee cup is raised to the lips. Coffee flows through your body as freely as your life’s blood, refreshing all that it touches: look you at the youth and vigor of those who drink it.

Whoever tastes coffee will forever forswear the liquor of the grape. Oh drink of God’s glory, your purity brings to man only well-being and nobility“

To give a bit of historical context, coffee was first used and documented in 1000 by a Philosopher and Astronomer Rhazes (850-922) although some date its cultivation to 575 in Yemen. It was used by tribes such as the Galla of Ethiopia and other Northeast African tribes. By 1470-99, Coffee spread to Mecca and other middle eastern areas. Since Muslims were forbidden to consume alcohol, coffee became an alternative that assisted with long nights of prayer. This association is why many European Colonies initially banned coffee during its first appearances in the 1500’s. Eventually the decision reach all the way to the Pope Clement VIII in the 1600’s. Upon tasting it he instead declared that, “This devil’s drink is so delicious…we should cheat the devil by baptizing it.”

Stay Tuned for more on the History of Coffee and let me know what you think about the Sheik’s ode to Coffee!

Summertime is Cold Brew Time! Just because the temperature outside is rising does not mean that the coffee slows down. Rather, it changes form to a little something known as Cold Brew. Before we begin with this lesson, let me … Continue reading →

We were contacted a few weeks ago by a coffee importer with an office in Boston, InterAmerican. Charley, one of the team members who we have worked with was interested in coming to Philly to visit us. We had a really hectic week since we moved our roasting facility from 911 N. Broad St. to a dedicated space at 19th & Washington, but fortunately we were back at it on friday and happy to have Charley over for a visit.

Charley is very knowledgeable in coffee from his experience in Central America working as a Peace Corps volunteer and understands the business we operate in. We discussed a lot about coffee training and certified coffee cupping. We also talked about the logistics of bringing in coffee from origin. After going over more about the importing process and talking about the industry as a whole, I couldn’t help but continue to be pressed to stay focused as a coffee roasting company, although retail looks interesting. There are lots of ways one can work in coffee and lots of ways a company can grow, but for us at this moment, coffee roasting is our dedication. Getting to work closely with importers to receive information on the coffees we consider for purchase is something we value and we’re thankful for and a large part for us as a roasting company. Every purchase we make has an impact on a given farm and ultimately a person or family at that farm, therefore by spending time developing direct relationships with all of the parties involved in the supply chain we have a chance to better understand the issues from the farm level to the cup. And ultimately aquire better tasting coffee through good, clear, transparent, communication. Charley and I agreed, it’s about finding people with similar values, building good relationships and building trust, then working to source the best coffee possible while improving quality of life. We’re out to improve the world through this model and if we reach any of this goal, we will be happy with our work. This is one element that has and will continue to guide our coffee roasting company.

Green Street Coffee Roasters is moving along as we enter into the summer. Our company is less than a year old and we could not have done it without all the support from coffee lovers, friends and family. As we are moving along I have been taking time to reflect on how and why we are here.

I sincerely thank all those who took a chance on us when we werenobody’s coming through the door talking about fresh roasted specialty coffee. True to form for many great Philadelphia stories, we are the underdogs. That said, our tenacity and the support we have makes us a real contender in the coffee arena. All of our accounts have been fantastic in working with us and we are glad to serve you all! I also am so thankful for our friends and families who have helped critique many things, pointed out opportunities and went above and beyond for us. Thanks a million!

So in sum you can count on us to go above and beyond for you. We will find the highest quality coffee, roast it to perfection and work to serve you and your customers. In the eloquent words of a phrase I heard today “Were from Philly, Were in Philly and were having a hell of a time.” Please connect with us and let us know what you like and how we can improve to serve you better. TM”